A Little Story About Love

Part 22

Elle

Something about Max had changed. He had slept again, and looked healthy again. It was still unsure why he had been able to sleep, but he had, and no one was going to complain about that. But that wasn't what had changed. Max got happy easier, and sad easier, his emotions were in the open, for everyone to see. The guarded look in his icey blue eyes had faded, if not vanished completely. You could see his feelings in his eyes and in his movements. He was more trusting in others, but at the same time had grown to be more shy, weary of new people. Trust didn't come easily to Max, but when he trusted you, it was complete, full trust. I could recognize the change, and I knew that although it would be hard on him, this change was good. His walls to shut out the world were opening up, letting him live, letting him find joy in life.

Chance had slept in our room again, and in the morning he thankfully hadn't been quite so monstrous as the last time. He seemed to be making a real effort just to stay quiet until he had showered and woken up. I could see this becoming a regular thing and easily adjusted to make three cups of coffee instead of two.

*~*~*

Over the next several weeks, Chance began to sleep in our room regularly, Max able to sleep nearly every time he was there, and never when he wasn't. Max's boot came off, and he was back to his dancing, working slowly but regaining his skills quickly. Chance's personal belongings slowly began appearing in our room. And in mid-April, right before I left for our short holiday, Max and Chance hauled in a new bed big enough for Chance to sleep in. Around April 10th, I left the room at the mercy of the boys, hoping it would be in decent shape when I got back. Unfortunately, I didn't have to wait long to find out what condition the room was in.